The renewed agreement reinforces collaboration between the EU and participating Mediterranean states, aiming to develop and pilot innovative, scalable solutions to the region’s most urgent challenges—food insecurity and water scarcity.
Launched in 2017, PRIMA pools knowledge and funding across countries to support scientific research and innovation.
The EU has pledged up to 325 million euros towards the programme through 2031, with participating states contributing an estimated 384 million euros over the same period.
The agreement was initiated in Cairo by Abdel Hamid El-Zoheiry, Egypt’s PRIMA National Coordinator, and Nienke Buisman, Head of International Cooperation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mohamed Ayman Ashour, EU Ambassador to Egypt Angelina Eichhorst, and representatives from Egypt’s foreign and higher education ministries attended the signing ceremony.
Eichhorst described PRIMA as a flagship EU research programme and a crucial platform for science diplomacy and regional cooperation.
“This initiative promotes joint ownership and leadership in addressing key regional issues like food security and water scarcity,” she said. “Since 2019, we are proud to have supported 123 Egyptian beneficiaries—from universities and research institutes to private enterprises—who have participated in 90 PRIMA initiatives, securing 17 million euros in funding.”
The extended agreement will further boost Egypt’s engagement in collaborative projects and deepen EU-Mediterranean research and innovation partnerships.
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